Gironde estuary

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Tug helping a bulk carrier on Gironde estuary to approach a subsidiary of Bordeaux port.
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Tug helping a bulk carrier on Gironde estuary to approach a subsidiary of Bordeaux port.

The Gironde is a navigable estuary, but often referred to as a river, in southwest France and is formed from the meeting of the rivers Dordogne and Garonne just below the centre of Bordeaux.

The Gironde is approximately 65 km (38 miles) long and between 3-11 km (2 to 7 miles) wide and the French département Gironde is named after it. The Gironde is subject to very strong tidal currents and great care is needed when navigating the river by any size or type of boat.

The Gironde was the setting for Operation Frankton, a British special forces operation during World War II tasked with the objective of destroying shipping moored at the docks in Bordeaux.

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